Throughout the 2014-15 school year the Ohio Valley Conference will celebrate the stories of pioneers and leaders from each of our member institutions who paved and continue to pave the way for future generations of student-athletes and administrators. Check back here often as well as check out www.OVCSports.com/Diversity to learn more.
Several years ago the NCAA had a promotional campaign with the tagline “There are over 380,000 student athletes, and most of us go pro in something other than sports.”
Sometimes following successful collegiate playing career a student-athlete can move into their professional career without having to leave the University where they were a star.
The former Tracy Linton (now Broom) is arguably one of the top women’s basketball players in Jacksonville State and Division II history and now works for the Jacksonville State Athletic Department where she is an academic advisor and the department’s Senior Woman Administrator.
The designation of SWA is intended to encourage and promote the involvement of female administrators in meaningful ways in the decision-making process in intercollegiate athletics. The designation is intended to enhance representation of female experience and perspective at the institutional, conference and national levels and support women's interests.
Broom came to JSU from Thomasville, Georgia and would become an All-American following her four-year playing career (1989-93).
Broom grabbed 1,530 rebounds during her playing career which is still the Jacksonville State career record in that category. She also holds the program’s record for rebounds in a game (27), rebounds in a season (430) and rebounding average in both a season (16.6 in 1992-93) and a career (13.2).
In addition to being named an All-American in 1993, Broom was named the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year as a senior as she helped her team to the GSC Tournament Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament. That season she averaged 15.9 points and 16.6 rebounds per contest.
The team she played on as a sophomore compiled a 26-4 record and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight; that season she averaged 15.2 points and 12.1 rebounds a contest.
Her freshman season Broom averaged 12.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game to take home GSC Freshman of the Year honors.
In conjunction with the NCAA’s 25th anniversary celebration of women’s basketball in 2005-06, Broom was named one of the “NCAA’s Finest” which honored the careers of the top players and coaches during that time period.
She was inducted into the Jacksonville State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.